San Jose State University : Undergraduate Studies

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Procedures for Submission of New GE Courses

Submit an original plus 12 copies (18 copies for English 1A/B and 100W courses) of the complete course certification packet. If there are any questions, please call the Associate Dean (Curriculum), Office of Undergraduate Studies (4-2447).

1. Course Certification Request Form for General Education (rtf) .

2a. New courses: approved Undergraduate Permanent Course Proposal Form (doc).

2b. Existing modified course: approved Minor Course Change Form (doc).

3. Course Description

Demonstrate how the course meets the content requirements. The description must be applicable to all sections of the course, regardless of instructor or department for cross-listed courses. Include:

  1. Course description
  2. Student learning objectives for General Education Area and student learning objectives specific to your course, linked to how students will meet these objectives through course activities/experiences
  3. SJSU Studies course syllabi must state, "Courses to meet Areas R, S, and V of SJSU Studies must be taken from three different departments."
  4. Topics or subjects covered in the course
  5. Prerequisites (if any)
  6. Specifics relating to how assignments meet writing requirements
  7. Tentative course calendar
  8. University recommended statement on Academic Integrity
  9. University recommended statement on Persons with Disabilities

4. Assessment

All certification requests must include an assessment plan. In accordance with that plan, a description of the following should be linked to the learning and content objectives for the appropriate General Education Area:

  1. assignments (including length and style of required reading and writing)
  2. examinations (number, format, and relation to objectives)
  3. description of assessment strategies used and information reviewed (dates and number of sections). Effective Fall 2005 6 Approved May, 2005

5. Instruction

Describe how the course is taught. Include:

  1. methods of instruction (e.g., lectures, discussions, small groups, simulation), pointing out opportunities for active student learning
  2. general qualifications of all those who might teach the course, with areas of expertise, experience, and training
  3. description of how course will be coordinated to insure consistent implementation and assessment across all sections of the course

Approval Process

1. Department submits a complete General Education assessment/certification packet to the Board of General Studies via its College Dean (see guidelines above).  Designation of a department course coordinator is required (e.g., instructor, curriculum committee representative, department chair).


2. College Curriculum Committee reviews requests and forwards to College Dean for recommendation.

3. College Dean forwards the original plus12 copies (18 copies for English 1A/B and 100W courses) of all submitted packets to the Board of General Studies by October 1 for the following fall and March 1 for the following spring certification.

4. Core and American Institutions courses (except for HUM 1A/B, 2A/B and AmSt 1A/B): Board of General Studies refers proposals to the appropriate Advisory Panel for review and recommendation back to the Board.

5. The Panel reviews the complete packet. If there are concerns about the course, one or more of the Panel members is designated to meet with the Course Coordinator/Department representative to express the Panel’s concerns. Once the concerns have been addressed, the Panel forwards its recommendations to approve, deny, or modify/clarify the course to the Board.

6. The Board reviews and acts on all courses. No proposals are rejected or modified/clarified without consultation with the Department. After a final vote of the Board has been taken, the AVP for Undergraduate Studies writes a letter to the Department Chair stating the Board’s action. If the course requires modification/clarification or has been denied, the Board’s concerns are detailed in the letter. Although the Provost reserves the right to act on any General Education courses, that authority has been delegated to the AVP for Undergraduate Studies as Chair of the Board.

7. Undergraduate Studies records all actions in office files, and posts certifications to the official University Curriculum File.

8. Courses approved by February 1 may be scheduled for the following Fall term. Courses approved by September 1 may be scheduled for the following Spring term.

9. Initial certification normally will be for a period of two years, at which time an assessment packet for Continuing Certification will be submitted

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